The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26

the abolition OF slavery In Brazil evidently
fails to satisfy the eager advocates Of eman.
cipation. The law then passed by the Cham
bers made such sweeping provisions both
for the immediate liberation Of tho aged and
for the gradual. compensated liberation Of
the able-bodied that It was GENERALLY looked
upon as the fnal pleoe Of legislation needed
to mako Brazil land Of tho FREQ. But a.
ready now bill is offered In the Chamber Of
Deputies for tho immediate manumission Of
every slave In the empire. save for oompul-
sorry service at fair wages during period
Of two years; and even from this enforced
labor, exemption can be purchased ct rate
fixed in the proposed law.
Considering that the emancipation move
ment In Brasil has received no impetus a
"war measure" like that which rapidly over
threw slavery In the United States, Its recent
progress has been creditable. Itmay be said
to have begun In 1871. when the Bio Branco
statute provided for the gradual liberation Of
all slaves. But,the emancipation funds at the
disposition Of the Government wore until 70
Gently so small that private aid has supple
mented official work. In Ceara indefatigahlo
labors Of individuals were rewarded by the
enfranchisement Of parish after parish until
slavery was at last abolished throughout the
province. Their work began In 1s7a with
register Of IS. 400 slaves, and twelve years A.
forward the last bondmAn vas freed. Sub
scriptions, lotteries fairs and the extra labor
Of the slaves themselves were rceorted TO for
raising funds. The suecsas obtained In Ceara
prompted similar efforts In Rio Grande do
Sui and elsewhere. @
To- In MOI Hn.
the comparatively slow work Of private
emancipation. brought into the Chambers .
most important measure As renewed the
following year It liberated all slaves over
sixty years Of aga required . now registry.
and freed all not SO registered; dxed new
prices. according to age for the purchase Of
slaves. making It pecuniary object for
masters to anticipate the period Of final
emancipation; provided for vast increase
In the emancipation fund by Q tai Of ftve par
cent. on all public revenues except those de-
rived from exports, and obliged freed slaves
to work for . certain period at wages In
order TO prevent agricultural disasters.
This bin. which was substantially enacted.
became worthy supplement- to tho noble
Free Birth statute Of 1871. under which
every child born was declared free, though
compelled TO Yield labor 70 his mothers
owner until the ago Of twenty-one. In return
for maintenance and support The prae-
tcal effect OF the recent statute 5~as 10
insure the freedom Of all persons held In
bondage at the end Of thirteen years. or
before the close OF tho present century.
Nevertheless. ardent emannipatonists evi-
IDENTIFY cannot wait 90 long. and tho new pro-
posal for far speedisr Acknowledgement no
opens the whole question.
whatsoever tho fate Of tho new proposition.
which Ii not likely to DO adopted % 1t stands,
one important disclosure has been made by
the publication Of portions OF the new official
registry which closed on the 10th Of March.
Such returns ~ have been made known
show great falling of from the accepted
estimates OF tho existing number Of slaves.
Under the terms Of tho law. non-registry b
emancipation; and whether some owners
have neglected TO comply with the law. or
have chosen this method Of freeing their
slaves. or whether former estimates and
registers were incorrect the practical result
10 to make the Governments task Of emanci-
patton much easier than had been supposed.
We shall not walt till the end Of the century
10 find slsvery abolishsd In Brasil